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Games

Classic Valve Titles Now in Enhanced Xbox 360 Backward Compatibility Collection

by Will Tuttle, Xbox Wire Editor in Chief Posted on October 18, 2018October 18, 2018

The Backward Compatibility program has quickly become a hallmark feature of the Xbox family, and we love seeing people discover (or rediscover!) games they may have missed the first time around. Gamers have played over 1 billion hours of Xbox 360 and Original Xbox games on Xbox One – and we think our new release is only going to keep that momentum going. Starting today, four new Xbox 360 titles will be available enhanced for Xbox One X: the historic collection of Half-Life 2: The Orange Box, Portal: Still Alive, Left 4 Dead, and Left 4 Dead 2. Whether players are revisiting these iconic titles or experiencing them for the first time, they’ll see them with the stunning visuals only... Read more

Games

Play Conan Exiles Free with Xbox Live Gold This Weekend on Xbox One

by Tor Egil Andersen, Communications Manager, Conan Exiles Posted on October 18, 2018October 18, 2018

Conan Exiles first released on Xbox One back in August 2017, then as an Xbox Game Preview title before releasing in May 2018. And just a few days ago we introduced the biggest update to the game since launch, introducing the new concept of taming and owning pets – plus a whole lot more. Now we’re excited to finally give Xbox One players the chance to play Conan Exiles for free for a limited time. From 12:01 a.m. PDT on Thursday, October 18 to 11:59 p.m. PDT on Sunday, October 21, Xbox Live Gold members can download and play our open world survival game for free, and if you decide to make the plunge and buy it we’re also offering a hefty discount – up to 40% off from October 18 to... Read more

Explore a Haunted Amusement Park in Roblox’s Hallow’s Eve Event on Xbox One

by Christofer Oberst, Technical Writer, Roblox Posted on October 18, 2018October 18, 2018

Roblox’s annual Hallow’s Eve event has officially begun on Xbox One. Play millions of free, user-created games today by downloading Roblox and start earning limited-time Halloween-themed rewards! Discover What Lurks in Sinister Swamp Underneath the ghostly glimmer of a full moon, the pale visage of a forgotten amusement park can be seen peeking out from behind a viscous fog. Luckily for you and your friends, you’ve all just been invited to take the ride of your lives. Don your scariest outfit and get ready to embark on a fantastic, yet frightening journey through the mysterious depths of Sinister Swamp. The Hallow’s Eve event runs from Thursday, October 18 through... Read more

Games

Watch the Red Dead Redemption 2 Launch Trailer

by Rockstar Games Posted on October 18, 2018October 18, 2018

America, 1899. The end of the Wild West era has begun. After a robbery goes badly wrong in the western town of Blackwater, Arthur Morgan and the Van der Linde gang are forced to flee. With federal agents and the best bounty hunters in the nation massing on their heels, the gang must rob, steal and fight their way across the rugged heartland of America in order to survive. As deepening internal divisions threaten to tear the gang apart, Arthur must make a choice between his own ideals and loyalty to the gang who raised him. Red Dead Redemption 2, an epic tale of life in America at the dawn of the modern age, arrives for Xbox One on October 26. Watch the new Launch Trailer above and... Read more

Sinner: Sacrifice for Redemption Available Today on Xbox One and Xbox Game Pass

by Feng Xun, Creative Director, Dark Star Posted on October 18, 2018October 18, 2018

We started working on Sinner: Sacrifice for Redemption because we wanted to make something for ourselves. We’d worked for bigger studios for years and with the rise of indie games around the world, we decided that we wanted to join the party and make our own indie game. Sinner: Sacrifice for Redemption came about because of our love for the Dark Souls series and our desire to something smaller, tighter, and unique with the genre. Unfortunately, as Chinese developers, we struggled to showcase, market, and build a community while developing Sinner. This was made even more difficult because we are Chinese speakers and our English isn’t great. Thankfully, we signed on with our... Read more

Games

A Guide to Weapon Specializations in Battlefield V

by Jonas Elfving, Writer, Battlefield V Posted on October 17, 2018October 17, 2018

The weapons of Battlefield V are powerful, deadly, and adjustable. You read that right; you can modify your primary weapons by using them in battle and spending the in-game currency you’ll earn by playing the game. Want more accuracy when you’re lining up your next target? How about a faster hipshot in the thick of battle? We call those kinds of modifications Specializations, and they give you a variety of ways to specialize each of your primary weapons to best suit your playstyle. Specializations Are Not a One-Way Street Modifying your weapons is more about the journey than the destination. Specializations aren’t necessarily an endpoint, though some players may treat them that... Read more

Games

Learn About the Inspiration Behind The Jackbox Party Pack 5

by Allard Laban, Chief Creative Officer, Jackbox Games, Inc. Posted on October 17, 2018October 17, 2018

Our team has been so excited to bring The Jackbox Party Pack 5 to Xbox One players. We feel that this Party Pack showcases the fun gameplay you’ve come to expect from us while throwing in some major surprises that we think you’ll love. We made it our goal to home in on the things that players (and streamers) would appreciate the most, while pushing the boundaries with new features, including a completely new style of game that we’ve never attempted before. We’ll let you decide for yourself, but we’ve already heard from fans, during our streams, and at conventions, that this is “the best pack yet.” You Don't Know Jack is our longest-running and probably most-loved series of... Read more

Hera, Queen of the Gods, Makes Her Royal Entrance to Smite

by Richard Yu, Brand Director, Smite Posted on October 17, 2018October 17, 2018

The Queen of the Gods has arrived in Smite: Battleground of the Gods. Smite features over 90 playable Gods and Goddess from global mythology. Hera, Queen of the Gods, is an iconic character from Greek mythology and a long-requested addition to the Smite universe. Hera has descended from her throne to restore order to the pantheons. Hera, Queen of the Gods, has watched the Gods’ wars and destruction from Mount Olympus, and it’s time for her to intervene. Hera was there for Ragnarok, for the calamity, and for the destruction. She has seen the rise and fall of new Gods and Goddesses as they etch their mark in history. Hera is joined by her loyal champion, Argus. In the game, Hera... Read more

Buy a Double Chalupa Box for a Chance to Win a Limited-Edition Xbox

by Will Tuttle, Xbox Wire Editor in Chief Posted on October 17, 2018October 17, 2018

When combined, few things are better than tacos and Xbox. Calling all Taco Bell fans – here’s one you won’t want to miss. That’s right, in the United States, Taco Bell is partnering with Xbox again to give fans the chance to win limited-edition Xbox One X consoles each time they buy a $5 Double Chalupa Box starting October 18 through November 21, 2018. The exclusive platinum-colored console comes packaged with Taco Bell’s famous “ring” when powered on (exclusive to these limited-edition consoles), a new White Special Edition, Xbox Elite Wireless Controller and three months of Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Live Gold. Think it’s too good to be true? It gets better! An Xbox One... Read more

Games

Creating Rhyme Without Reason in Kingdom Come: Deliverance DLC Amorous Adventures

by John Comer, Lead English Writer, Warhorse Studios Posted on October 16, 2018October 16, 2018

Honeyed Words, the first quest in our Kingdom Come: Deliverance: The Amorous Adventures of Bold Sir Hans Capon DLC, was one of my favourite quests to work on – the design nicely develops the relationship between Henry and Hans Capon. It’s a classic buddy relationship, beginning with antagonism, slogging through an unwilling partnership and maturing into mutual respect and affection. But the social divide between the blacksmith’s son and the young lord is a barrier that can never be quite demolished – the two just poke holes through it with teasing and sarcastic humour, and that makes for a nice tension that underpins all their conversations. Actors Tom McKay and Luke Dale bring... Read more

Games

Your Cat Could Be in Minecraft!

This Week on Xbox: October 12, 2018

by Mike Nelson, Xbox Wire Editor Posted on October 12, 2018October 12, 2018

We know you’re busy and might miss out on all the exciting things we’re talking about on Xbox Wire every week. If you’ve got a few minutes, we can help remedy that. We’ve pared down the past week’s news into one easy-to-digest article for all things Xbox! Or, if you’d rather watch than read, you can feast your eyes on our weekly video show above. Be sure to come back every Friday to find out what’s happening This Week on Xbox! Forza Horizon 4 Sees Two Million Players in Its First Week It has been one week since we launched Forza Horizon 4 and we are humbled by the overwhelmingly positive feedback we continue to receive from players around the world. We are proud to say... Read more: This Week on Xbox: October 12, 2018

Games

For Honor Graphical Remaster Launching with Marching Fire on October 16

by Chris Watters, Associate Communications Manager, Ubisoft Posted on October 12, 2018October 12, 2018

For Honor Marching Fire is coming to Xbox One, bringing the four new heroes of the Wu Lin faction into the fray, the new PvE Arcade mode to test your mettle, and the new 4v4 Breach mode to challenge your team strategy as you siege or defend a castle. The October 16 launch also coincides with a massive free update that all For Honor players will benefit from: a graphical remaster that implements a revamped lighting system, improved textures, new sky gradients, and more to make the game look better than ever. A “remaster” in the world of video games usually involves a game from a previous console generation, but according to Art Director Christian Diaz, live games like For Honor... Read more

Games

Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 Has Arrived on Xbox One

by Kevin Kelly, Editorial Manager, Activision Posted on October 12, 2018October 12, 2018

It’s finally here! Ever since Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 was announced earlier this year, we’ve been counting down the months, weeks, hours, minutes, and yes… even the seconds until this moment. But that wait is over, and players around the world are immersing themselves into the game-changing world of Black Ops 4. This game is the latest installment in the Black Ops series, which is the best-selling in Call of Duty history. It also represents a landmark for the series, delivering the most tactical multiplayer modes in a Black Ops game, an unprecedented three Zombies adventures at launch, and the all-new battle royale mode Blackout. This new experience brings together iconic... Read more

Games

Next Week on Xbox: New Games for October 16 – 19

by Mike Nelson, Xbox Wire Editor Posted on October 12, 2018October 12, 2018

Welcome to Next Week on Xbox, where we cover all the new games coming soon to Xbox One! Every week the team at Xbox aims to deliver quality gaming content for you to enjoy on your favorite gaming console. To find out what’s coming soon to Xbox One, read on below and click on each of the game profiles for pre-order details (dates are subject to... Read more

Games

Available Now: Victrix Pro AF Wired Gaming Headset for Xbox One

by James Shields, Product Marketing Manager Posted on October 12, 2018October 11, 2018

When it comes to Xbox accessories, we believe in providing choice for gamers. Our Designed for Xbox program enables collaborations with top-tier hardware partners to deliver not only choice but also the best possible gaming experiences. The newest device from one of our top partners is the Victrix Pro AF – a premier headset for esports pros, streamers, and core gamers – which launches today for Xbox One. We were lucky enough to sit down with Victrix’s General Manager, Ozhan “Oz” Maker, to learn more about this highly anticipated headset. Oz, whats your ‘elevator pitch’ for the Victrix Pro AF? The Victrix Pro AF is arguably the first gaming headset created specifically... Read more

October 2018 Xbox Update Rolling Out Today

by Jason Ronald, Director of Program Management for Xbox Platform Posted on October 11, 2018October 11, 2018

If we could pull your attention away from exploring the beautiful scenery and becoming a Horizon Superstar in historic Britain with Forza Horizon 4, we have some new Xbox One features to share. The October 2018 Xbox Update adds new ways to express yourself with Avatars, interact with your console with Voice Skills, and enjoy your favorite streaming content. Here’s a rundown of what’s new: New Xbox Avatars The new Xbox Avatars are expressive, creative and, most importantly, bring to life the community of fans they represent. The Avatar Editor features a wide range of body types, and the entire Avatar closet supports all of them, enabling you to uniquely tailor your Avatar... Read more

New Preview Alpha Ring 1810 Update – 10/10/18

by Bradley Rossetti, Xbox Insider Team Lead Posted on October 10, 2018October 10, 2018

Starting at 4:00 p.m. PDT today, members of the Xbox One Preview Alpha Ring will begin receiving the latest 1810 Xbox One system update (181009-1510). Read on for more about the fixes and known issues in the latest 1810 system update. Fixes: My Games and Apps We have fixed the issue that game and app updates were automatically downloading to a user’s console when they did not enable this feature in Settings. The new Allow Remote Install had a bug that was defaulting to the “Keep my system up to date” setting rather than the “Keep my games and apps up to date” setting (Under Settings – System – Updates & Downloads). Known Issues: Avatars ... Read more

Games

Darwin Project Has Reached 2 Million Inmates on Xbox One – Here’s What’s in Store

by Simon Darveau, Creative Director, Scavengers Studio Posted on October 10, 2018October 10, 2018

Hey Xbox players! Ever since we launched Darwin Project on Xbox One via Xbox Game Preview, your support has been incredible. So much of your feedback has helped shape Darwin Project into what it is today, from Duo Mode to customization to new Tools, Powers, and Tiles―and this is just the beginning. Today, we’re proud to count two million of you in the Darwin Project Xbox community! To say that we are blown away by your enthusiasm would be an understatement. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for believing in Darwin Project at this early stage. We’re thrilled to have such a passionate group of players along for the ride as we keep improving Darwin Project up to the full... Read more

How My Memory of Us Meets its Players

by Jakub Jablonski, Art Director, Juggler Games Posted on October 10, 2018October 10, 2018

The greatest joy that a game developer can have is to watch players who are playing your game at the moment and to talk to them. During the pre-release presentations and travels of My Memory of Us to fairs and gaming events, we had an incredible pleasure to see various players and a wide array of their reactions to the game. At the very beginning, we really feared the first reactions. We tried to do our best to make sure that the adventurous game about a couple of kids, inspired by the events that took place during the occupation of Warsaw in the times of World War II, shows great respect for the victims and their families. Creating a game inspired by the events of the Holocaust is a... Read more: How My Memory of Us Meets its Players

Games

Cargo Runs Come To Sea Of Thieves Today